Argentina footballer Lionel Messi with West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas, right (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahapatra) NEW DELHI: All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey has broken his silence on the chaos that marred Lionel Messi’s much-hyped performance in Kolkata, directly blaming political grandstanding and serious protocol failures for the mess at the Salt Lake Stadium. Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Chaubey said the event was moving away from its sporting purpose. “Yesterday, the event we saw became a personal event of the West Bengal Sports Minister. People saw more of the West Bengal Sports Minister than Messi on TV or other media. It was personal campaigning, election campaigning and using an international player for completely personal interest. And I think that will cost Bengal in the future,” he said.
Fans throw objects, destroy stadium after Messi leaves early | Another Hyderabad
Chaubey stressed that strict adherence to protocol is non-negotiable when hosting international stars. “Law will take its own course. Bengal must take the lessons very seriously. All protocols must be strictly implemented whenever we host an international event and an international star. If these protocols were followed then this problem would not have happened,” he added. The AIFF, in an official statement on Saturday, expressed deep concern over the events at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, where around 50,000 fans gathered to catch a glimpse of Messi along with Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul. Many viewers paid between Rs 4,000 and Rs 12,000 for tickets, while some reportedly spent up to Rs 20,000 in the black market. However, within minutes of Messi’s arrival, he was engulfed by politicians, VVIPs, police officers and aides, forming a human barricade that left paying fans frustrated and angry. After clarifying its position, the AIFF distanced itself from the event. “It was a private event organized by a PR agency. AIFF had no involvement in the organization, planning or execution of this event,” the federation said, adding that no permission was sought. The situation got out of control as angry fans threw bottles, pulled out chairs and vandalized infrastructure. Fiberglass seats were smashed, canopies torn and parts of the stadium damaged before police managed to restore order, leaving a night that promised celebration but ended in chaos.ALSO READ: GOAT India Tour: The Story of Lionel Messi’s Signed Jersey in Kolkata
